Lover II- ML

264. Chemistry

AN: oh hello again👋🏼  happy Monday morning!☕️

I've finally finished the chapter! Although I will say it feels rather patchy when I proofread it, so I apologise if it's not quite as smooth as others.

Since I once again need to write the next chapter, I've decided I'm going to post a new chapter once a week (every Monday) and on Wednesdays and Fridays I'll continue posting chapters from my one shot book.

It gives me the week to write a good quality chapter without the stress, and I feel it's better for you all to have one chapter a week so you're still getting a little something rather than the story suddenly stopping for months, then coming back with three chapters a week only for me to have to stop it again.

I hope you understand, and I hope you all enjoy!

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Mapi had traveled back to Spain to join training and Fabian had traveled with his grandparents to London to watch England v USA at a sold out Wembley.

Kaia made sure Fabian was warm and happy before and after the warmups, hugging her parents one last time before joining the back of the line in the tunnel.

This would be the first time England had faced Emma Hayes's USA team; meaning the tactical, mentality and personnel had all shifted to the English manager's desires.

Still, England had their set game plan, they knew they could still beat the team walking out at their side and they knew they had the crowd on their side tonight.

The game itself was testy, both sides had chances that just missed the mark or attacks that were defended well by the opposition.

The crowd never quietened as the minutes ticked on and game began to flow more freely; giving such energy to the stadium that the two teams fed off.

With Kaia on one wing and Emilia on the other, England were very fast down both sides and put the most dangerous balls into the box.

It helped a lot with Lucy and Leah's accurate long balls for them to run onto, to get out of their own half and attack USA.

The resilience from England was clear to everyone watching, the tactics were working and off the ball everyone was working together to stop USA getting many chances.

So by halftime when the scoreboard still read 0-0, England only needed to find that killer goal while USA had to shift tactically and bring on different players.

Off came Lindsey Horan and Emma Sears, being replaced by Korbin Albert and Yazmeen Ryan respectively.

It was an attempt to add more energy and youth to the team, to unsettle England and try to match the home team's pacy players.

But with no change to the back four for USA, it was easy for England's front three to continue as they left off in the first half; pushing, testing and taking on players until Kaia was able to Maradona turn Fox into the box and play a killer pass across to Alessia.

Alessia took the shot first time, feeling her defender come across in preparation to tackle her.

But the move was too quick and slick, Alessia powers the ball into the bottom far corner and she spins towards Kaia as her arms shoot up in celebration.

Kaia runs to Alessia and the two collide in a hug, a hug the rest of the team soon join in on while Wembley cheers deafeningly loud.

For everyone in England colours, it was such a relief to see clever, clinical play in the final third, a spark of individual brilliance on the wing that resulted in a goal from their in form number 9.